Formation of the Canadian National Railways Diesel Committee

The Canadian National Railways formed its Diesel Committee on May 29, 1934, under the leadership of engineers like C.E. Brooks. Tasked with testing early diesel switchers from builders such as Westinghouse and ALCO, the group conducted extensive trials on branch lines in Ontario and Quebec. Their findings helped CN become one of North America's earliest major adopters of diesel power after World War II, cutting operating costs and enabling longer consists through the Rockies. This forward-thinking initiative positioned CN as an innovator and influenced the continent-wide dieselization that transformed railroading by the 1950s.